Grampound Road is delighted to announce the re-signing of Ravindra Karunaratne for their 2024 Cornwall League campaign.
“Ravi” is a legendary Sri Lankan professional, who has graced both, domestic and club cricket for over a decade.
A proven off-spin bowling all-rounder, in domestic cricket, Karunaratne has featured for numerous sides including Saracens (2007/08), Chilaw Marians (2009/10), Seeduwa Raddoluwa (2010/11), Negombo (2017/18-18/19), Kurunegala Youth (2019/20-20/21), and Kandy Customs (2021/20-22/23).
He has scored nearly 2,000 runs with 4 first-class centuries (2 apiece during 2017/18, and 2019/20 seasons, respectively). With the ball, his off-spin has accounted for 70 plus wickets, with impressive first-class and List A averages of 30.78, and 19.90.
Karunaratne returned to the Sri Lankan circuit following a 7-year hiatus in Australia, playing club cricket for Aberfeldie. After an initial stint with Bundoora back in 2008/09, he spent seven seasons as Player/Coach for the VTCA (Victorian Turf Cricket Association) club, racking up 2,867 runs at 26.30 and 227 wickets at 14.20.
He chalked up VTCA bests of 167 and 6-16 with bat and ball and was named Aberfeldie’s “Champion Player” in all bar one of his seven seasons. In 2014/15, courtesy of his 536 runs at 33.50 and 37 wickets at 13, he was named VTCA’s “Champion Player”. He can lay claim to being one of the competition’s best overseas players for the past decade.
A household name in Victorian club circles, Karunaratne decided to showcase his talent in the UK for the first time in 2018 – he didn’t disappoint.
He ended up playing two seasons in the Cornwall Premier League and was set for a third with Grampound Road in 2020 before COVID struck. The all-rounder has scored 1,323 runs at 34.82 and taken 67 wickets at 18.61 during this period. However, it was his exploits off the field that earned rave reviews with the Truro-based club. He was instrumental with their junior section, coaching all age-groups, and was a delight to have around the club.
The Sri Lankan star returned to the UK in 2021, this time as Player/Coach for Blackheath in the strong Kent Premier League. Whilst he produced some useful performances for the club, it was his exploits with his coaching that continued to earn rave reviews. He has then spent the past two seasons plying his trade in Northern Ireland for Coleraine in the strong North West Cricket Union.
For 2024, Karunaratne is now set to return to the sunny shores of Cornwall having decided to venture back to Grampound Road where he feels he has unfinished business. Roll on the summer.
